Along EU Borders

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Cross-border Crime

Cross-border crime is
understood as ‘any serious crime with a cross-border dimension committed at or
along, or which is related to, the external borders’. Frontex is expected to
address not only migrant smuggling or trafficking in human beings but also
serious crime that adversely affects the security of the external EU borders.
This may include for instance smuggling of stolen vehicles, drugs, firearms,
tobacco products, mineral oils and alcohol (excise goods) or trafficking of
hazardous materials. It could also concern the
environmental crime such as waste or wildlife trafficking.

There is strong evidence
that many criminal networks engage in the poly-criminal activity, adding simply
migrant smuggling or trafficking in human beings to their ‘services portfolio’.
Criminal groups facilitating irregular migration may also collaborate with
networks involved with other types of serious and organised crime such as the
production and provision of fraudulent documents, corruption, provision of safe
houses and transportation, illicit money transfers and laundering. In some cases the same routes and modi operandi are used
for migrant smuggling and illegal goods trafficking.

Given the complex character
of cross-border crime threats, comprehensive operational responses are
required. Therefore especially risk mitigation measures taken by Member States
and Frontex at the EU external borders need to be based on risk analysis
findings and identified criminal threats. Besides risk analysis support, the
Agency may provide technical and operational assistance to Member States to
reinforce their capacity to fulfill their obligations with regard to the
control of the external borders and to face challenges at the external borders
resulting also from cross-border crime. This support may consist of training,
advice on appropriate technological tools or launch of an operational response
either in the form of a Joint Operation or even a Rapid Border Intervention.

Frontex operational
responses are always aiming at serving those multiple purposes to better
respond and tackle wide range of threats encountered at the EU external
borders.

In line with the European
Integrated Border Management concept, the Agency coordinates its cross-border
crime related activities also with Europol and other relevant actors.
Frontex has developed a system to collect personal data on criminal suspects
collected during its Joint Operations and shares the analysed personal data
with Europol. Frontex is also fully engaged with the EU Policy Cycle / European
Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT), which was created
to address serious and organised crime in Europe. The
support to EU Policy Cycle may embrace both the execution of the Operational
Actions (leadership or participation) or Joint Action Days (coordinated or
participated by Frontex). In both cases, The Agency cooperates closely with
Member States and other JHA Agencies, especially Europol.

Frontex
is furthermore tasked to support the coordinated implementation of the Common
Risk Indicators on foreign terrorist fighters as well as to assist the Member
States to tighten controls of external borders to detect suspicious travels of
foreign terrorist fighters and smuggling of firearms, in cooperation with
Europol. Almost all Frontex coordinated sea, land and air border operations
taking place at border crossing points include these operational objectives. In
addition, Frontex has developed specific situational awareness material
tailored for border guards in cooperation with Europol.